Three more arrested in death of Carlsbad man

Three more people were arrested Monday afternoon in San Diego’s Serra Mesa neighborhood in connection with the shooting death of a Carlsbad man.

Michael Michel Sahagun

/ DMV

Michael Michel Sahagun

Michael Michel Sahagun (/ DMV)

That brings to six the number of suspects in custody in the death of Michael Sahagun, 63, whose body was found April 1 in the detached garage of his Valley Street home, Carlsbad police Sgt. Mickey Williams said Tuesday.

Joseph Verkade, 34, Michael Gault, 30, and Heather Strauch, 32, were taken into custody about 4:40 p.m. at a house on Ron Way near Phyllis Place, Williams said.

All three face murder, robbery and other charges and are being held without bail. Investigators searched the home and found evidence associated with the crime, Williams said.

On April 2, two men and a woman were arrested at a Motel 6 in Oceanside about 24 hours after Sahagun was found dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. They were arraigned last week in Vista Superior Court and pleaded not guilty.

Grant Hunter, 23, and Mercedes Yorba, 19, were charged with murder, residential robbery and burglary. Gary Gomez, 27, was charged with accessory after the fact.

Hunter and Gomez, who were on probation, are being held without bail. Yorba’s bail was set at $5,025,000, according to jail records.

Prosecutor Matthew Greco said in court that the motive for the crime was a pre-planned robbery and burglary. He said Hunter and Yorba targeted the victim, and that Gomez provided them sanctuary and assistance afterward.

“We believe they all conspired together to commit the crime,” Williams said Tuesday. “We believe the victim knew some of the suspects as acquaintances.”

Gerardo Sahagun told the court that his brother, who was unarmed, was killed in a senseless ambush and that his family was afraid to return to the home.